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Nunez C, Hoots JK, Schepers ST, Bower M, de Wit H, Wardle MC. Pharmacological investigations of effort-based decision-making in humans: Naltrexone and nicotine. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275027. [PMID: 36197897 PMCID: PMC9534411 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Many mental health disorders are characterized by an impaired ability, or willingness, to exert effort to obtain rewards. This impairment is modeled in effort-based decision tasks, and neuropharmacological studies implicate dopamine in this process. However, other transmitter systems such as opioidergic and cholinergic systems have received less attention. Here, in two separate studies we tested the acute effects of naltrexone and nicotine on effort-based decision-making in healthy adults. In Study 1, we compared naltrexone (50mg and 25mg) to placebo, and in Study 2, a pilot study, we compared nicotine (7mg) to placebo. In both studies, participants completed the Effort Expenditure for Rewards Task (EEfRT), which measured effort-based decision-making related to monetary rewards. Although subjects expended greater effort for larger reward magnitude and when there was a higher probability of receiving the reward, neither naltrexone nor nicotine affected willingness to exert effort for monetary rewards. Although the drugs produced significant and typical drug effects on measures of mood and behavior, they did not alter effort-based decision-making. This has implications both for the clinical use of these drugs, as well as for understanding the neuropharmacology of effort-related behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Nunez
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Jennifer K. Hoots
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Scott T. Schepers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Michael Bower
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Harriet de Wit
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Margaret C. Wardle
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Mattar P, Uribe-Cerda S, Pezoa C, Guarnieri T, Kotz CM, Teske JA, Morselli E, Perez-Leighton C. Brain site-specific regulation of hedonic intake by orexin and DYN peptides: role of the PVN and obesity. Nutr Neurosci 2022; 25:1105-1114. [PMID: 33151127 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2020.1840049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The orexin peptides promote hedonic intake and other reward behaviors through different brain sites. The opioid dynorphin peptides are co-released with orexin peptides but block their effects on reward in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). We previously showed that in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN), dynorphin and not orexin peptides enhance hedonic intake, suggesting they have brain-site-specific effects. Obesity alters the expression of orexin and dynorphin receptors, but whether their expression across different brain sites is important to hedonic intake is unclear. We hypothesized that hedonic intake is regulated by orexin and dynorphin peptides in PVN and that hedonic intake in obesity correlates with expression of their receptors. Here we show that in mice, injection of DYN-A1-13 (an opioid dynorphin peptide) in the PVN enhanced hedonic intake, whereas in the VTA, injection of OXA (orexin-A, an orexin peptide) enhanced hedonic intake. In PVN, OXA blunted the increase in hedonic intake caused by DYN-A1-13. In PVN, injection of norBNI (opioid receptor antagonist) reduced hedonic intake but a subsequent OXA injection failed to increase hedonic intake, suggesting that OXA activity in PVN is not influenced by endogenous opioid activity. In the PVN, DYN-A1-13 increased the intake of the less-preferred food in a two-food choice task. In obese mice fed a cafeteria diet, orexin 1 receptor mRNA across brain sites involved in hedonic intake correlated with fat preference but not caloric intake. Together, these data support that orexin and dynorphin peptides regulate hedonic intake in an opposing manner with brain-site-specific effects.
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Key Words
- CeA, central amygdala
- DH, dorsal hypothalamus
- DYN, dynorphin
- KOR, kappa opioid receptor
- LH, lateral hypothalamus
- NAc, nucleus accumbens
- OFC, orbitofrontal cortex
- OR, opioid receptor
- OX1R, orexin 1 receptor
- OX2R, orexin 2 receptor
- OXA, 1orexin-A
- Orexin
- PVN, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus
- PVT, paraventricular thalamic nucleus
- VH, ventral hypothalamus
- VTA, ventral tegmental area
- cafeteria diet
- dynorphin
- fat
- feeding behavior
- food choice
- hedonic intake
- hypocretin
- hypothalamus
- norBNI, nor-binaltorphimine
- obesity
- opioid receptors
- orexin 1 receptor
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Affiliation(s)
- P Mattar
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - S Uribe-Cerda
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - C Pezoa
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - T Guarnieri
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - C M Kotz
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - J A Teske
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.,Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | - E Morselli
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - C Perez-Leighton
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Daily intermittent fasting in mice enhances morphine-induced antinociception while mitigating reward, tolerance, and constipation. Pain 2020; 161:2353-2363. [PMID: 32427747 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The opioid epidemic has plagued the United States with high levels of abuse and poor quality of life for chronic pain patients requiring continuous use of opioids. New drug discovery efforts have been implemented to mitigate this epidemic; however, new medications are still limited by low efficacy and/or high side effect and abuse potential. Intermittent fasting (IF) has recently been shown to improve a variety of pathological states, including stroke and neuroinflammation. Numerous animal and human studies have shown the benefits of IF in these disease states, but not in pain and opioid treatment. We thus subjected male and female CD-1 mice to 18-hour fasting intervals followed by 6-hour feed periods with standard chow for 1 week. Mice that underwent this diet displayed an enhanced antinociceptive response to morphine both in efficacy and duration using thermal tail-flick and postoperative paw incision pain models. While showing enhanced antinociception, IF mice also demonstrated no morphine reward and reduced tolerance and constipation. Seeking a mechanism for these improvements, we found that the mu-opioid receptor showed enhanced efficacy and reduced tolerance in the spinal cord and periaqueductal gray, respectively, from IF mice using a S-GTPγS coupling assay. These improvements in receptor function were not due to changes in mu-opioid receptor protein expression. These data suggest that a daily IF diet may improve the therapeutic index of acute and chronic opioid therapies for pain patients in the clinic, providing a novel tool to improve patient therapy and reduce potential abuse.
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Yen E, Kaneko-Tarui T, Ruthazer R, Harvey-Wilkes K, Hassaneen M, Maron JL. Sex-Dependent Gene Expression in Infants with Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome. J Pediatr 2019; 214:60-65.e2. [PMID: 31474426 PMCID: PMC10564583 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.07.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate salivary biomarkers that elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which in utero opioid exposure exerts sex-specific effects on select hypothalamic and reward genes driving hyperphagia, a hallmark symptom of infants suffering from neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). STUDY DESIGN We prospectively collected saliva from 50 newborns born at ≥34 weeks of gestational age with prenatal opioid exposure and 50 sex- and gestational age-matched infants without exposure. Saliva underwent transcriptomic analysis for 4 select genes involved in homeostatic and hedonic feeding regulation (neuropeptide Y2 receptor [NPY2R], proopiomelanocortin [POMC], leptin receptor [LEPR], dopamine type 2 receptor [DRD2]). Normalized gene expression data were stratified based on sex and correlated with feeding volume on day of life 7 and length of stay in infants with NOWS requiring pharmacotherapy. RESULTS Expression of DRD2, a hedonistic/reward regulator, was significantly higher in male newborns compared with female newborns with NOWS (Δ threshold cycle 10.8 ± 3.8 vs 13.9 ± 3.7, P = .01). In NOWS requiring pharmacotherapy expression of leptin receptor, an appetite suppressor, was higher in male subjects than female subjects (Δ threshold cycle 8.4 ± 2.5 vs 12.4 ± 5.1, P = .05), DRD2 expression significantly correlated with intake volume on day of life 7 (r = 0.58, P = .02), and expression of NPY2R, an appetite regulator, negatively correlated with length of stay (r = -0.24, P = .05). CONCLUSIONS Prenatal opioid exposure exerts sex-dependent effects on hypothalamic feeding regulatory genes with clinical correlations. Neonatal salivary gene expression analyses may predict hyperphagia, severity of withdrawal state, and length of stay in infants with NOWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Yen
- Department of Pediatrics, Floating Hospital for Children/Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
| | | | - Robin Ruthazer
- Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Karen Harvey-Wilkes
- Department of Pediatrics, Floating Hospital for Children/Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | | | - Jill L Maron
- Department of Pediatrics, Floating Hospital for Children/Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA; Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
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Lewis LR, Benn A, Dwyer DM, Robinson ESJ. Affective biases and their interaction with other reward-related deficits in rodent models of psychiatric disorders. Behav Brain Res 2019; 372:112051. [PMID: 31276704 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the leading global causes of disability. Symptoms of MDD can vary person to person, and current treatments often fail to alleviate the poor quality of life that patients experience. One of the two core diagnostic criteria for MDD is the loss of interest in previously pleasurable activities, which suggests a link between the disease aetiology and reward processing. Cognitive impairments are also common in patients with MDD, and more recently, emotional processing deficits known as affective biases have been recognised as a key feature of the disorder. Studies in animals have found similar affective biases related to reward. In this review we consider these affective biases in the context of other reward-related deficits and examine how affective biases associated with learning and memory may interact with the wider behavioural symptoms seen in MDD. We discuss recent developments in how analogues of affective biases and other aspects of reward processing can be assessed in rodents, as well as how these behaviours are influenced in models of MDD. We subsequently discuss evidence for the neurobiological mechanisms contributing to one or more reward-related deficits in preclinical models of MDD, identified using these behavioural assays. We consider how the relationships between these selective behavioural assays and the neurobiological mechanisms for affective bias and reward processing could be used to identify potential treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy R Lewis
- School of Psychology, Tower Building, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, United Kingdom.
| | - Abigail Benn
- University of Oxford, Department of Experimental Psychology, Tinsley Building, Marsden Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, United Kingdom.
| | - Dominic M Dwyer
- School of Psychology, Tower Building, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, United Kingdom.
| | - Emma S J Robinson
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, United Kingdom.
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Li MM, Madara JC, Steger JS, Krashes MJ, Balthasar N, Campbell JN, Resch JM, Conley NJ, Garfield AS, Lowell BB. The Paraventricular Hypothalamus Regulates Satiety and Prevents Obesity via Two Genetically Distinct Circuits. Neuron 2019; 102:653-667.e6. [PMID: 30879785 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Revised: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
SIM1-expressing paraventricular hypothalamus (PVH) neurons are key regulators of energy balance. Within the PVHSIM1 population, melanocortin-4 receptor-expressing (PVHMC4R) neurons are known to regulate satiety and bodyweight, yet they account for only half of PVHSIM1 neuron-mediated regulation. Here we report that PVH prodynorphin-expressing (PVHPDYN) neurons, which notably lack MC4Rs, function independently and additively with PVHMC4R neurons to account for the totality of PVHSIM1 neuron-mediated satiety. Moreover, PVHPDYN neurons are necessary for prevention of obesity in an independent but equipotent manner to PVHMC4R neurons. While PVHPDYN and PVHMC4R neurons both project to the parabrachial complex (PB), they synaptically engage distinct efferent nodes, the pre-locus coeruleus (pLC), and central lateral parabrachial nucleus (cLPBN), respectively. PB-projecting PVHPDYN neurons, like PVHMC4R neurons, receive input from interoceptive ARCAgRP neurons, respond to caloric state, and are sufficient and necessary to control food intake. This expands the CNS satiety circuitry to include two non-overlapping PVH to hindbrain circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica M Li
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Joseph C Madara
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jennifer S Steger
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Michael J Krashes
- Diabetes, Endocrinology and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nina Balthasar
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - John N Campbell
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jon M Resch
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Nicholas J Conley
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Alastair S Garfield
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Bradford B Lowell
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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Abstract
The failure of traditional antidepressant medications to adequately target cognitive impairment is associated with poor treatment response, increased risk of relapse, and greater lifetime disability. Opioid receptor antagonists are currently under development as novel therapeutics for major depressive disorder (MDD) and other stress-related illnesses. Although it is known that dysregulation of the endogenous opioid system is observed in patients diagnosed with MDD, the impact of opioidergic neurotransmission on cognitive impairment has not been systematically evaluated. Here we review the literature indicating that opioid manipulations can alter cognitive functions in humans. Furthermore, we detail the preclinical studies that demonstrate the ability of mu-opioid receptor and kappa-opioid receptor ligands to modulate several cognitive processes. Specifically, this review focuses on domains within higher order cognitive processing, including attention and executive functioning, which can differentiate cognitive processes influenced by motivational state.
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Noradrenaline transporter availability on [ 11C]MRB PET predicts weight loss success in highly obese adults. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2018; 45:1618-1625. [PMID: 29627935 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-018-4002-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Although the mechanisms by which the central noradrenaline (NA) system influences appetite and controls energy balance are quite well understood, its relationship to changes in body weight remains largely unknown. The main goal of this study was to further clarify whether the brain NA system is a stable trait or whether it can be altered by dietary intervention. METHODS We aimed to compare central NA transporter (NAT) availability in ten obese, otherwise healthy individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 42.4 ± 3.7 kg/m2 (age 34 ± 9 years, four women) and ten matched non-obese, healthy controls (BMI 23.9 ± 2.5 kg/m2, age 33 ± 10 years, four women) who underwent PET with the NAT-selective radiotracer (S,S)-[11C]O-methylreboxetine (MRB) before and 6 months after dietary intervention. RESULTS MRI-based individual volume-of-interest analyses revealed an increase in binding potential (BPND) in the insula and the hippocampus of obese individuals, which correlated well with changes in BMI (-3.3 ± 5.3%; p = 0.03) following completion of the dietary intervention. Furthermore, voxel-wise regression analyses showed that lower BPND in these regions, but also in the midbrain and the prefrontal cortex, at baseline was associated with higher achieved weight loss (e.g., hippocampal area R2 = 0.80; p < 0.0001). No changes were observed in non-obese controls. CONCLUSION These first longitudinal interventional data on NAT availability in highly obese individuals indicate that the central NA system is modifiable. Our findings suggest that NAT availability before intervention could help predict the amount and success of weight loss in obese individuals and help adjust treatment options individually by allowing prediction of the benefit of a dietary intervention.
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Morales I, Currie PJ, Hackenberg TD, Pastor R. Opioidergic and dopaminergic modulation of cost/benefit decision-making in Long Evans Rats. Physiol Behav 2017; 179:442-450. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Revised: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Studer B, Knecht S. A benefit-cost framework of motivation for a specific activity. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2016; 229:25-47. [PMID: 27926441 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2016.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
How can an individual be motivated to perform a target exercise or activity? This question arises in training, therapeutic, and education settings alike, yet despite-or even because of-the large range of extant motivation theories, finding a clear answer to this question can be challenging. Here we propose an application-friendly framework of motivation for a specific activity or exercise that incorporates core concepts from several well-regarded psychological and economic theories of motivation. The key assumption of this framework is that motivation for performing a given activity is determined by the expected benefits and the expected costs of (performance of) the activity. Benefits comprise positive feelings, gains, and rewards experienced during performance of the activity (intrinsic benefits) or achieved through the activity (extrinsic benefits). Costs entail effort requirements, time demands, and other expenditure (intrinsic costs) as well as unwanted associated outcomes and missing out on alternative activities (extrinsic costs). The expected benefits and costs of a given exercise are subjective and state dependent. We discuss convergence of the proposed framework with a selection of extant motivation theories and briefly outline neurobiological correlates of its main components and assumptions. One particular strength of our framework is that it allows to specify five pathways to increasing motivation for a target exercise, which we illustrate and discuss with reference to previous empirical data.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Studer
- Mauritius Hospital, Meerbusch, Germany; Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - S Knecht
- Mauritius Hospital, Meerbusch, Germany; Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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